The New Jersey Devils announced Thursday that defenceman Luke Hughes will miss the rest of the season to begin recovery and rehab early on his shoulder injury. The Devils have four games remaining in the season and were eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention on Tuesday.
Luke Hughes Season Over Following Shoulder Surgery
Luke Hughes suffered a shoulder injury on January 19th in a contest against the Calgary Flames. In the middle frame, Hughes received a slight bump from Calgary forward Justin Kirkland. The play was innocent, but a slight extension of the shoulder ultimately led to a dislocation. Hughes was placed on long-term injured reserve following the game.
Image: © Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire
Hughes rehabbed the shoulder during the Olympic break and ultimately missed 10 games. Since returning, Hughes has not shown signs of any discomfort. Hughes and the Devils are opting to fully repair the shoulder, given the teams elimination.
The young blueliner had surgery prior to the 2024-25 season as well, repairing damage he sustained during offseason training.
Hughes Impact for the Devils
Luke Hughes has played well down the stretch, posting nine points in the 19 games he has played since returning from the ling-term injured reserve in late February. The 22-year-old blueliner, who signed a seven-year, $63-million deal last summer, appeared in 68 games and posted 35 points. Hughes was a key piece on the Devils top power play unit that ranks 13th in the NHL.
The offensive numbers took a slight dip this year, but the same can be said for the entire roster. Where he has developed the most this year is on the defensive side. Hughes leads the team averaging just over 23 minutes a night. He has stepped up with a number of injuries suffered on the blueline this year, including Johnathan Kovacevic and Brett Pesce both missing over half the season.
The Devils will need Luke Hughes healthy if they wish to return to contender status in 2026-27 and beyond. With Hughes opting to have the procedure now, he should be ready for training camp come September.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
